I would never have been seen to be doing that though :-)
It is remarkable though how quick of a turnaround Cook's batting has taken after a poor couple of years. It seems that he has eradicated his issue outside off stump overnight. He is leaving the ball absolutely brilliantly and he just seems extremely safe in the corridor of uncertainty.
I cant remember the last time Englands openers put on a really big score. Hopefully this is it because I can't see us winning the Ashes unless the top order scores heavily.
Andrew Samson BBC Test Match Special statistician "This is England's first century opening stand in a home Test since Birmingham in 2011 when Cook and Strauss added 186 against India."
I cant remember the last time Englands openers put on a really big score. Hopefully this is it because I can't see us winning the Ashes unless the top order scores heavily.
Andrew Samson BBC Test Match Special statistician "This is England's first century opening stand in a home Test since Birmingham in 2011 when Cook and Strauss added 186 against India."
Cook went on to get 294 in that game.
Four years is an incredible dry spell. Thanks for the stat.
New Zealand are in trouble here though, with only four bowlers their seamers are going to be knackered and we can punish them for that with our powerful middle order after this exceptional platform has been set.
In fact we have pushed on even with these two, the last ten overs have gone at five and a half an over.
The walking wicket is now in. Hopefully he will just try and smash his way out of trouble because there's no sense in him trying to hold his end up for Ali. Leave that to Wood and Anderson.
New Zealand are in trouble here though, with only four bowlers their seamers are going to be knackered and we can punish them for that with our powerful middle order after this exceptional platform has been set.
Obviously I know what I'm talking about...
I've just finished running a coaching session, the next generation are in trouble :-)
Comments
It is remarkable though how quick of a turnaround Cook's batting has taken after a poor couple of years. It seems that he has eradicated his issue outside off stump overnight. He is leaving the ball absolutely brilliantly and he just seems extremely safe in the corridor of uncertainty.
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"This is England's first century opening stand in a home Test since Birmingham in 2011 when Cook and Strauss added 186 against India."
Cook went on to get 294 in that game.
It's the fifth time he's surpassed fifty in his last seven innings.
Both openers on 53.
Lyth 80* (145) & Cook 71* (155)
187 behind
New Zealand are in trouble here though, with only four bowlers their seamers are going to be knackered and we can punish them for that with our powerful middle order after this exceptional platform has been set.
In fact we have pushed on even with these two, the last ten overs have gone at five and a half an over.
Original decision Not Out, reviewed and given out.
177-1
Ballance is in and run rate has gone from 3.8 this morning to 1.6 now.
Maiden century and it's in front of his home crowd, brilliant for him.
Bell comes in and hits his second ball for six, 225/2
Zero footwork from Gary there...
The second new ball does the trick, with just the second ball with it New Zealand get the wicket.
239-4
257-6
266-7
Six wickets lost for 31 runs with the new ball.
267-8 and still 83 behind.
I've just finished running a coaching session, the next generation are in trouble :-)
I've just finished running a coaching session, the next generation are in trouble :-)